Clutch mechanism



F61). 6, 1945. P F, SKOQG 2,368,892

CLUTCH MEcHANIsM Filed Nov. 25, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 1 PER r-sKooG .INVENTR BY Andi:

AHORNEY Feb. 6, 1945. R SKOQG 2,368,892

CLUTCH MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PERF. SKO G INVENT R BY ATTORNEY Patenten Feb. 6, '1945 UNITED STATES PATENTr OFFICE f- CLUTCH MECHANISM v Per F. Skoog, Olympia, Wash. Application .November 25, 1942, seriellen-,466,882 4' claims. (o1. 19a/ zei My invention relates to aclutch mechanism and more particularly to an intermittent motion v mechanism suitable for coupling a constantly rotating shaft with one to be intermittently rotated. There has been a long-felt need for a simplel clutch mechanism for use between a-constantly rotating shaft and an intermittently rotatable shaft; one in which a. simple construction and operation is embodied.

Having in mind the defects of theprior art clutch mechanism, it is an object of my invention to provide an axial clutch mechanism that is easily constructed and Will operate efficiently for long periods of time Without attention.

Another object of my invention is toprovide, in a clutch mechanism of the type described, a coupling of a drive shaft and a driven shaft for intermittent rotation of the latter without overrun upon an uncoupling of the rotary members.

A still further and more specific object of my inventionis the provision, in a clutch mechanism of the type described, of locking and pressingy means for a displaceable element and which are of the simplest construction and operation and Will not be deleteriously affected after many uses. The foregoing objects and others .ancillary thereto I prefer to accomplish as follows:

According to a preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a constantly turning rotor having one or moreoutwardly urged latchv dogs mounted in its outer periphery. Surrounding the rotor is a clutch ring having. a movable portion to expose a latch shoulder for engagement by one of the dogs of the rotor. The shoulder of the clutch ring is shielded by themovable portion to normally prevent; the latching dog from engaging with the shoulder, but which portion, upon movement, permits the dog of the rotor to couple with the clutch ring and carry the latter into rotation. The movable portion is incorporated in the arrangement as a detent shoe that is pivotally associated with the clutch ring, and this shoe is restrained from movement "by a presser shoe carried on a pivoted arm. The shoe is normallylocked in pressing contact with the detent. For. the purpose of locking the presser shoe a locking dog is employedand remotely controllable means are employed for moving the locking dog out` of this locking position upon occasion. Coupled to the clutch ring is a shaft jects 'and advantages thereof, will? best be widerstood from thev following description of'a specific embodiment when read in Vconnection 'the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an elevational view of a device havr- `ing my lclutch mechanism incorporated thnerm with portions broken away for eenvenietniev of illustration;

` Figure 2 is a vertical .semana-1f View taken en line 2*,-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken onv line 3 3 of Figurel I;

Figure 4 is a perspective view :of the zrutprI mi` my clutch mechanism;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a latch; .dog employed in. connection withsfthe` rotor ot Figure 4;

Figure 6 is va perspective View of a rocking dog employed in my clutch mechanism;

Figure '7 is a perspective' View of a presser arm. .that is: cooperatively used in. my clutch mecha-` nism;

n VFigure 8 is a perspective View of a detent shoe of -my clutch mechanism.; and

f Figure 9 is an enlarged detailview in elevation of the workingparts ofthe clutchmechanism.

A. clutch mechanism, tof ,overcome the ldefects hereinbefore enumeratedt.v must have at least twol totally distinct characteristics; it must be capable of operating quicklyl in `response to a remotely controlled actuation device; and 4it must be capable ,of rapid'` disengagingulpon' the Occurrence of a certain function of the mechanism .to Whicl'i the clutch isI coupled; Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of my'invention, referringto i Figures 1 and, 2, is incorporatedv in a devieehav'- l50. which may be employed for moving various types ing'a plurality oi cam. actuated valves. Within the casing [0f I provide journalscl Ik' and |1110 supportthe cam shaft` I 3-, A plurality'ofcams I4, carried by the shaft, each operates to raise a valve pin I5r that` rests upon a cam. followerY I3I remotely pivoted at I? and having its free'end:resting upon the cam surface. The pin |5-may servejto open and closef ports [8f and I9"and.to raise the ball 2D `to permit the. flow of nuid. under pressure as directed by various conduits that-are connected to said ports. y l y Tothe cam shaft, by means ofthe'hub Manci its clutch plate 25,. I coupleI the chit-ch-rng '28,. The clutch ring .2B is broken at one point and has the clutch shoulder f 2 'l Pivotally mounted the break inthe clutch ringv isa detent shoeV 29 that has a semi-cylindrical portion 30 that rests. im a semi-cylindrical cup 3l for pivoting movement. Across the upper end of theshoef r2.9 is a groeven which receivesfthe lip :t3 'on the clutelfi.ring.4 The dimensions of the groove 3,2 are somewhat greater; thanfthe' thickness-of the 33, so that the shoe '29', in pivoting .outwardwithf respect to: the rinay. exposes thegshoulder 21 and in swinging.

inwardly shields the shoulder. An inner curved face 34 of the shoe conforms to the inner curved face 35 of the clutch ring.

To retain the shoe so that face 34 is in alignment with face 35 of the clutch ring, I employ the presser arm 31 which is pivoted at 38 to a web- 39 within the casing I8. Arm31 has the presser shoe 40 on its end, which is adapted to normally rest upon a hump or horn 4I of the detent shoe 29. A locking dog pivoted at 46 to the webA 39 acts upon the presser shoe vto retain it against the detent shoe. y

It will be seen that, by raising the locking dog 45, the presser arm and its presser shoe may swing to the left in Figures 2 and 9 and permit the detent shoe 29.to valso swing to the left to expose the shoulder 21. The locking dog is raised by -a link 41 which is coupled between the dog and, at its upper end, the solenoid core 48 that is interposed in the field of the coil 49. The closingof switch 5B completes an electrical'circuitv through the coil 49 which is then energized ac-` cording to the known operation of such a sole-- noid construction. The core 48 is lifted upwardly into the eld, thus lifting the locking dog 45.

ring and against the face 34 of the detent shoe;v

When the locking dog 45 is in the lower position as shown in Figure 2, the inner face of the clutch ring is absolutely smooth and rotation of the rotory and its dog effects no coupling with the clutch ring. Upon the operation of the solenoid to lift the dog as shown inFigure 9, the arm 31 swings to the left permitting the detent shoe 29v to also swing and expose the shoulder 21. Thereupon, the next arriving latch dog of the rotor contacts the shoulder 21, picks up the clutch ring 26 and carries it in rotary motion along with the rotor.

When the solenoid is de-energized, the lockingv dog is permitted to fall against the presser'shoe 40 and the weight of the dog thus applies a force to said shoe to press it against the outer periphery'of the clutch ring. Under this circumstance, when the ring and the outwardly displaced detent shoe 29 rotates into contact with the shoe 49 the detent shoe is then displaced inwardly to disenga'ge the latch dog 51 from the clutch ring and to permit alignment of the inner face of the clutch ring. Thereafter, until the solenoid is again energized and the lockingY dog lifted, the rotor will turn freely. y

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, Il am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted, except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims. f

I claim:

l. A clutch mechanism, comprising: a rotor including means for rotating the same; a pivoted dog carried by said rotor and having a radialurgence; a clutch ring enclosing said rotor and its dog, said ring having a shoe swingable in the` wall thereof, said shoe having a surface conform` ing to the inner surface of the ring, and a shoulder on said ring concealed interiorly by said movable shoe when the latter is aligned with the remainder of the clutch ring; means for retaining said shoe against outward displacement and for releasing said shoe on occasion whereupon the outwardly urged dog displaces the shoe and exposes and engages the shoulder of the clutch ring to couple the latter to the rotor, and a member coupled to said clutch ring for rotation therewith.

2. A clutch mechanism, comprising: a rotor including means for rotating the same, a pivoted dogy carried by said rotor and having an outward urgence, a ring enclosing said rotor and'its dog,

a shoe movable in the wall of the ring and havwithdrawing the locking dog from its retaining position whereupon the outwardly urged dog of the rotor displaces the movable shoe outwardly and exposes and engages the shoulder of the `clutch ring to couple the latter to the rotor, and

a member coupled to said clutch ring for rotation therewith. v l

3. A clutch mechanism, comprising: a rotor including means for rotating the same, a pivoted dog carried by said rotor and havingV an outward 7 urgence, a ring enclosing said rotor and its dog, a

shoe having a surface conforming to the inner contour of said ring and being swingable in the wall of the ring, said shoe having a portion extending exteriorly of the'ring, a shoulder on said ,ring concealed interiorly by said shoe when the latter is disposed in alignment with the ring inner face, a locking member to retain the movable shoe in aligned position with the clutch ring,

means for withdrawing the locking member from -its retaining position whereupon the outwardly a shoe movable in the Wall of the ring and having a portion extending exteriorly thereof, a shoul- 1 der on said ring concealed interiorly by said shoe rotor displaces the movable shoe outwardlyan'd.

exposes and engages the shoulder of the clutch ring to couple the latter to the rotor, anda horn carried by said movable shoe for engagement by the presser shoe upon rotation of the clutch ring to arrest motion of the latter when the presser shoe is urged thereagainst, and a ,member coupled to said clutch ring for rotation therewith.

PER F. SKOOG.' 

